Distinguished self-adjoint extensions of Dirac operators via Hardy-Dirac inequalities

We prove some Hardy-Dirac inequalities with two different weights including measure valued and Coulombic ones. Those inequalities are used to construct distinguished self-adjoint extensions of Dirac operators for a class of diagonal potentials related to the weights in the above mentioned inequalities.Comment: 16 page

Equilibration in phi^4 theory in 3+1 dimensions

The process of equilibration in phi^4 theory is investigated for a homogeneous system in 3+1 dimensions and a variety of out-of-equilibrium initial conditions, both in the symmetric and broken phase, by means of the 2PI effective action. Two Phi-derivable approximations including scattering effects are used: the two-loop and the ``basketball'', the latter corresponding to the truncation of the 2PI effective action at O(lambda^2). The approach to equilibrium, as well as the kinetic and chemical equilibration is investigated.Comment: 32 pages, 14 figures, uses axodraw, minor corrections adde

Parameter free Hubble constant from the quadruply lensed quasar SDSS J1004 + 4112

We present a free-form lens model for the multiply lensed quasar in the galaxy cluster SDSS J$1004+4112$. Our lens model makes minimal assumptions about the distribution of mass in the lens plane. We pay particular attention to the model uncertainties on the predicted time delay, originating from the particular configuration of model variables. Taking into account this uncertainty, we obtain a value of the Hubble constant of $H_0= 74^{+9}_{-13}$km s$^{-1}$ Mpc$^{-1}$, consistent with independent recent estimates. The predicted time delay between the central image E and image C (the first to arrive), is $\Delta T_{E-C}=3200\pm 200$ days. Future measurements of $\Delta T_{E-C}$ will allow to impose a tighter constrain on $H_0$ from this cluster-QSO system.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Resistance of stud shear connectors in composite beams using profiled steel sheeting

In composite beam design, headed stud shear connectors are commonly used to transfer longitudinal shear forces across the steel-concrete interface. This paper describes the structural performance of shear connection in composite beams with profiled steel sheeting. An accurate and efficient nonlinear Finite Element (FE) model was developed to study the behavior of headed stud shear connectors welded through the deck. The concrete slab considered in this article uses profiled steel sheeting with ribs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the steel beam. The material nonlinearities were included in the FE model. The concrete was modeled considering a damaged plasticity model available in ABAQUS software. The results obtained from FE analysis were verified against experimental results. A parametric study was conducted to observe the effects of changing of both the stud position inside the rib of profiled steel sheeting and the concrete strength on the resistance of the stud shear connector. The shear resistance of stud connectors obtained from the FE analysis and many experimental push-out tests whose results are available in the literature were used as a database to compare with design shear resistance calculated using AISC-LRFD and Eurocode 4. It is found that the shear resistance of stud connectors, obtained from the design rules specified in these codes, in some cases is greatly underestimated, and in other cases significantly overestimated.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

TgATAT-Mediated α-Tubulin Acetylation Is Required for Division of the Protozoan Parasite Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread protozoan parasite that causes potentially life-threatening opportunistic disease. New inhibitors of parasite replication are urgently needed, as the current antifolate treatment is also toxic to patients. Microtubules are essential cytoskeletal components that have been selectively targeted in microbial pathogens; further study of tubulin in Toxoplasma may reveal novel therapeutic opportunities. It has been noted that α-tubulin acetylation at lysine 40 (K40) is enriched during daughter parasite formation, but the impact of this modification on Toxoplasma division and the enzyme mediating its delivery have not been identified. We performed mutational analyses to provide evidence that K40 acetylation stabilizes Toxoplasma microtubules and is required for parasite replication. We also show that an unusual Toxoplasma homologue of α-tubulin acetyltransferase (TgATAT) is expressed in a cell cycle-regulated manner and that its expression peaks during division. Disruption of TgATAT with CRISPR/Cas9 ablates K40 acetylation and induces replication defects; parasites appear to initiate mitosis yet exhibit incomplete or improper nuclear division. Together, these findings establish the importance of tubulin acetylation, exposing a new vulnerability in Toxoplasma that could be pharmacologically targeted. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic parasite that infects at least one-third of the world population. New treatments for the disease (toxoplasmosis) are needed since current drugs are toxic to patients. Microtubules are essential cellular structures built from tubulin that show promise as antimicrobial drug targets. Microtubules can be regulated by chemical modification, such as acetylation on lysine 40 (K40). To determine the role of K40 acetylation in Toxoplasma and whether it is a liability to the parasite, we performed mutational analyses of the α-tubulin gene. Our results indicate that parasites cannot survive without K40 acetylation unless microtubules are stabilized with a secondary mutation. Additionally, we identified the parasite enzyme that acetylates α-tubulin (TgATAT). Genetic disruption of TgATAT caused severe defects in parasite replication, further highlighting the importance of α-tubulin K40 acetylation in Toxoplasma and its promise as a potential new drug target

Pressure management and residential consumption reduction

[EN] The benefits of applying pressure management in urban water supply networks are well known for more than 10 years. Apart from reducing leakage, it also reduces burst frequency and consumption. However, the reduction of consumption with pressure is an objective that has only been considered a priority in water scarcity scenarios and suffers from a lack of systematic or conclusive studies. This paper analyses the relationship between pressure and consumption in a water distribution network equipped with remote water meter reading. Based on end use breakdowns, the paper estimates the percentage of pressure-dependent consumption. It establishes three different scenarios and assesses the relationship between pressure and consumption by means of the N3 coefficient.Garmendia, M.; Almandoz Berrondo, J.; Arrizabalaga, A.; Arregui De La Cruz, F. (2018). Pressure management and residential consumption reduction. Water Science & Technology: Water Supply. 19(1):236-244. https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2018.071S23624419

Neanderthal teeth from Lezetxiki (Arrasate, Iberian Peninsula): New insights and reassessment

Objectives: We reassess the taxonomic assignment and stratigraphic context of a permanent upper first molar and a permanent lower third premolar recovered from the archeological site of Lezetxiki in the North of the Iberian Peninsula. Materials and Methods: We assessed the external and internal morphology of the teeth using qualitative descriptions, crown diameters, dental tissue proportions, and geometric morphometrics. The teeth from Lezetxiki were compared with Middle Pleistocene specimens, Neanderthals, Upper Paleolithic modern humans, and recent modern humans. Results: Both teeth were consistent with a Neanderthal classification. The upper first molar shows taurodontism, and its cusp proportions and overall morphology match those of Neanderthals. Geometric morphometric analyses of occlusal anatomy classify this molar as a Neanderthal with a posterior probability of 76%. The lower third premolar, which was originally classified as a lower fourth premolar, also shows a Neanderthal morphology. This premolar is classified as a Neanderthal with a posterior probability of 60%. Discussion: These teeth represent the only adult Neanderthal teeth from the Western Pyrenees region found to date. The teeth were found at a stratigraphic level (designated Level III) that marks the transition level from Mousterian to Aurignacian, and are among the most recent Neanderthal remains from the north of the Iberian Peninsula

Age-length keys availability for Atlantic bluefin tuna captured in the eastern management area

This paper analyzes the available direct ageing information in the last decade from Atlantic bluefin tuna caught in the eastern management area. To investigate differences among ALKs, a standard Von Bertalanffy growth function (VB) was fit to length at age data for each stratum. A deficient convergence of VB fitting to the asymptotic length due to the scarcity of old specimens was found for all available ALKs. After these analyses some records were identified as outliers (reading methodological issues) and removed from the data base.En prensa0,000